Can dogs eat Niboshi (dried baby sardines)?
Niboshi (dried baby sardines)（煮干し（いりこ））
With care
A dried small-fish product with highly concentrated calcium, phosphorus, and salt.
298 kcal per 100 g
What kind of food is this?
Small fish, boiled and dried. With the water gone the nutrients are concentrated: per 100g, calcium is 2200mg, phosphorus 1500mg, and iron 18mg—each the highest among the seafood in our tables.
Sodium is also high at 1700mg. Because whole fish are dried bones and all, even a small amount adds calcium and phosphorus easily—but the salt is concentrated right along with them.
How to serve
Besides using it for dashi stock, if you feed the fish itself, keep it to a touch of flavoring. It is concentrated in phosphorus and sodium, so for dogs on kidney care, it is something to discuss with your veterinarian.
Nutrition
Niboshi (per 100 g)
Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition (8th ed.)
| Energy | 298 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 64.5 g |
| Fat | 6.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 0.3 g |
| Calcium | 2200 mg |
| Phosphorus | 1500 mg |
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| Fiber | 0 g |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 15.7 g |
| Sodium | 1700 mg |
| Potassium | 1200 mg |
| Magnesium | 230 mg |
| Iron | 18 mg |
| Zinc | 7.2 mg |
| Copper | 0.39 mg |
| Iodine | − |
| Selenium | − |
| Manganese | − |
| Vitamin A | 29 µg |
| Vitamin D | 18 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.9 mg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 41 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| EPA | 260 mg |
| DHA | 320 mg |
| Alpha-linolenic acid | 19 mg |
"−" means the item is not listed in the source table (it does not mean zero).
In food-energetics terms
In food-energetics terms it is classified as "warming"—said to gently warm the body, making it a common choice in cold seasons.
(Food energetics is a long-standing idea of supporting the body through everyday meals. Treat it as one extra hint alongside the nutrition numbers.)
How much for your dog?
Get daily estimates from weight and activity level.